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 Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:54 pm
{I Guess I'm Just Special} The Park And A Paranormal Scientist. It was a decently nice day, much to Serra's displeasure. The girl liked the cold and damp and thus adjusted her shroud to suit her better. Of course that automatically meant that Addie's powder blue blouse was soaked through and through, but it was a small price to pay to be out in the sunshine.
The girl was dressed in a pretty little sundress and her hair was in short, messy pigtails. Addie, on the other hand, wasn't dressed as conservatively as usual. Her blue blouse was sleeveless and she was wearing a colorful skirt that clashed with it. Nothing at all like the historian in a suit that was usually thought of, no sir.
"Wanna go on the swings, baby?" she asked Serra. The little girl wiggled around in her mother's arms and floated just a few feet in front of her. Addie would never get used to that. "All right, you lead the way then."
Certainly, Jaime didn't take this as in stride as the colorful young woman did. No, he was downright gleeful about it, all but rubbing his hands together as he reached into the drab and torn messenger bag at his side. He pulled out a notebook and a pen, and calmly walked to a bench not twenty feet away from the female pair to sit down and write.
Subject seems unnaturally willing to display her powers in public. Previous encounters with subject suggest that this is perhaps an oddity due perhaps to the bond between the two? Physical encounter yet to be established.
Jaime was fiercely scribbling down notes, running fingers through roughly curled red hair, green eyes glowing with glee. From looking at his slightly rough, patched appearance, you wouldn't think he had a PhD in Supernatural Phenomena.
Looking up for a moment, he leaned back, and tried not to stare too hard at the pair. There were lots of mommies and their precious babies here at the park, and Jaime had had more than one sorry experience with the police where he'd been slapped with stalker stereotypes. He didn't give a squat about their personalities, or what kind of money they had. Perhaps if he kept a low profile, he could get a few pages of notes down before anyone got the wrong idea about him. Hopefully.
Serra made her way to the swings and Addie helped her get situated into one of the little swings that were made specifically for little babies and the brunette smiled, "Hey, there, baby. Wanna be pushed?" The little girl nodded and pulled her little mist shroud closer around her to keep her from touching too much of the swing. The plastic was slightly uncomfortable and the cool condensation definitely helped. "Uuuuh!"
Addie laughed softly and lifted the swing a bit before letting it go, rocking the child back and forth. She didn't notice anyone staring at her, too wrapped up in the small girl who was giggling with glee over the back and forth motion.
The curly-haired scientist couldn't help but wonder why nobody else seemed to notice the peculiarities about that little girl. He made a note of it in his notebook, suggesting that perhaps there was belief in her that made it appear as with other documented powers?
The mother wasn't paying attention. How fortuitous. Looking as calm, as nonchalant, and as harmless as he could, he moved to a closer bench, notebook and pen still ready to write down any peculiarity he could see. Perhaps they'd say something interesting he could hear now. Hopefully.
Addie didn't notice, but Serra certainly did. Her keen eyes went toward the man with the notebook and she waved, "Haaaaah!" She wasn't the most sociable, but he didn't look harmful and he was writing like her mother usually did. Perhaps he could push her too?
Aderyn turned her head and blinked. Hadn't she seen him before? Shaking it off, she turned back to the swing and began to push Serra again, who squealed, babbled, and caused her shroud to spray water.
The water spray certainly wasn't strong, but it was strong enough to get his notes a bit wet, and cause the ink to run. Biting his lip and muttering a low curse in Scots under his tongue, Jaime decided that it couldn't hurt to take life by the balls and go talk to the woman.
This was a problem throughout college and research. But well...you get arrested enough times, you get quite sick of it. "Can I help you there, miss? Your little one seems rambunctious." And strange. But that would come later.
"Hm? Serra? Rambunctious?" A tinkling laugh and she shook her head, "No, she's just excited. Normally she sits there quietly and chews on her fist or wills it to rain or something. You should see her when it rains, though. The girl's positively glowing."
Literally.
Serra looked up at Jaime and waved at him lightly, "Haaaa!"
Grossly taken aback would have been an understatement for Jaime's mood. It also was perhaps what caused the slip of his tongue next. "You talk about her specialties to others?!" This woman must be really something. He wondered how often they thought she was crazy.
Glancing down at the girl, he couldn't help but shake his head. If his theories were right, after she said that one look at the girl would suit the most skeptic types. Jaime did, however, stick her name in the back of his mind for later. Serra.
She blinked, "Why not? It's not all that uncommon in Gaia..." That was one thing she had learned fairly quick. Especially after meeting the fog child and the girl who had that magnetic-like field around her. Not much phased the historian any longer. Well, not much could phase her after managing to get through the stones and transported to Gaia from Earth either. How could someone live on Gaia and not be used to strange things? Hm.
Serra gave a little wriggle in the seat demanding attention. She wanted to be pushed more and she was in one of her more out going moods. It wasn't going to be easy to get her to calm down unless she decided to nap. Sighing, Addie lifted the swing again and let go, watching it rock back and forth.
"Are you kidding me? I'm personally used to such things, but most of the people that have special children like you want to keep them hidden! I ask them, and they get me arrested for stalking." That's right MacPhearsen. Run on at the mouth, that'll get you what you want.
Turning his attention to the girl, he noticed she was fussing and he had to reconsider his entire approach. Apparently the woman wasn't going to cry, clutch her child, and scream bad man on him. Refreshing.
Deciding it couldn't hurt to recover from his motormouth, he made a gesture. "May I push her? I'm sure she'd like to go high."
"...I have seen you before, haven't I. Have you been following us?" Instantly, her hackles DID raise. Other special children? Addie shook her head a little and moved a bit closer to Serra but she wasn't the kind to make accusations or not allow someone to explain themselves. His motor mouth definitely would definitely make things a bit harder for him, ******** and a half. Now see, if half of his classmates had been as eager to get out there and find things as he was, he wouldn't be in this position. He could have THEM doing this. Jaime wasn't suave enough, or good looking enough to handle this.
At least the Scottish buffoon had the sense to keep his mouth from dropping open while he rattled off the explanation he had tried to give every time, and was thankful he'd left his camera in his car. That might have been worse when she started yelling. "Studying. I am a paranormal scientist that studies phenomena occurring in children or other humanoid beings, one such being your daughter. I mean no harm, but mothers are damn uptight about scientists and their kids. Nevermind we're a decent sort, and aren't out to kidnap the.." here, he had to catch himself before he said specimen "children. My colleagues usually study older subjects."
"Huh." She looked hard at him for a moment, "Interesting. And wouldn't it be easier to simply go up to someone instead of following them and ACTING suspicious?" A fine eyebrow raised as she leaned against the swing just light enough not to fall over. Addie was still wary but he didn't LOOK like he was going to push her down and kidnap Serra. Besides, Serra had a decent judge of character and wasn't too put off by his presence. In fact, she seemed to be staring at him in interest.
He was almost staring right back. He was decidedly more interested in the little girl than her mother, and wanted badly to get a look around her. Fairly cute thing, and looked like a hell of a time to raise. "Yes see, most mothers deny there is anything wrong with their children. Thus the shock." Well hell, introduce yourself, you lout!
Straightening himself a bit, he held out a hand formally. "Doctor Jaime MachPhearson, at your service." Maybe if he was a good boy she wouldn't call the cops on him.
Understanding a bit, he kept his distance from the girl, but nonetheless, he was staring. She was just so interesting! So open!
"There is nothing wrong with my child," she answered, "Having abilities does not equate with having something wrong with you." Addie was firm with that. She was merely a human, nothing special about her at all. It made HER the freak in Gaia, if anyone was a freak. "Considering she just appeared out of the rain one day when I was late for work and landed in the middle of the street, I'd say she's just special."
Wrong with, indeed. Maybe something was wrong with HIM.
Then, at the introduction, Addie sighed. Politeness would win over every time. "Doctor Aderyn Barclay. You may call me Addie."
"Addie. Jaime works as well for me." And had he made a mess of his words again? Those speech classes never did teach you how to talk properly under pressure. Not that he was one to mince words. It was just...proper. Hell, what did he know about proper. "Wrong, was perhaps, the incorrect word. It is the word I hear most often, so I associate it mistakenly. I do apologize. I agree that she is quite unique and special. In the rain you say?" His fingers were badly itching for his pen and paper. Or better. His tape recorder!
"It would fit that she would manifest herself that way. I would be right in guessing that she has some affinity with the occurrence then?" This was incredibly refreshing, and he was pumping the poor thing, but he was excited!
"She does like rain," Addie offered. She was about to say more but Serra gave a cry of protest. The girl was being IGNORED and that did not sit well with her. Serra frowned and kicked her little legs, sending her shroud over to Jaime which promptly soaked him as it wrapped around him. Aderyn...giggled. Cutely.
"Serra!"
Well. At least it was warm out! Jaime was all set to be revved up for her obvious demonstration...when he realized that his bag was also soaked. "Oh no! My notes!" Weeks of notes, on various subjects, not just the little raincloud in front of him. Groaning a bit, he was determined not to ruin this chance, and smiled ruefully at the girl.
"Spunky thing, aren't you?" He pulled his shirt off to wring the water out of it, looking a bit mournfully at his pants. "She does this often?"
"Actually, you're the first person she's super soaked." Addie looked quite amused, actually, and was fighting to keep from giggling again. Serra was giggling gleefully and bouncing in the little swing that she was currently stuck in. Even if she levitated her legs would still be stuck.
"PAY!"
...Her first word. Aderyn's eyes went wide. "....Serra, did you just....?"
"Paypaypay!" The girl bounced in time to her words and made the shroud slid INTO Jaime's bookbag. THAT had gotten a funny reaction out of him.
The funny reaction had been him yelping and digging through his bag. There was one good thing out of it though. Serra was extremely happy and bubbling, and Addie was laughing. She had a nice enough laugh, he noted.
"I think she wants to play." He commented dryly. Hopefully she did soon, otherwise he'd be wet to the bone, and wouldn't dry no matter how much time he spent outside!
"That was her first word!" Addie screeched before picking her daughter up out of the swing and spinning her around and around and around as she cooed at her. Her brunette bob flew a little around her face as she spun and her skirt created a whirl of color as she did - but Serra was giggling and wondering why her mother was so happy. Of course, she wasn't going to complain....
Leaning against the pole of the swing set, he couldn't help but grin. Okay, he wasn't as nervous anymore, and was relaxing a bit. And it had been long said that happiness was contagious. Addie certainly was happy!
"Her first word, hm? I'm honored!" The tone was still a bit dry, Jaime still wasn't THRILLED to have his notes and clothing all but ruined. But he'd save a trip to the laundromat with them. Upside? Yes.
Addie beamed at the man as she snuggled her daughter close. Serra didn't exactly know what she did but it made her mother happy so she did it again, "Paaay! Pay paypaypay."
The historian was overjoyed and simply pelted Serra with kisses again, "Yes, play. Play all you want!"
It was just a hilarious situation. At least to him. The woman's clothing was getting darker by the second from the vapor in Serra's shroud. At least she had the brains not to wear white! Laughing, he flicked his eyes at her from head to toe.
"It's a wonder you don't wear rubber all the time!"
She grinned over at him, "I don't look good in rubber, thank you very much. Besides, Serra usually wears her shroud like a cape for me so I don't get wet unless I shift her wrong. Isn't that right, Serra love?" The girl nodded and nestled close to her momma, giving a yawn. All the excitement was wearing her baby self out.
"I'm sorry about your clothes."
"Don't worry. They'll dry. I'm just concerned about what were my notes." Helplessly he laughed again, holding up the runny, ink-stained notebook.
"It'll at least teach me to write in pencil, if nothing else." Ruefully, he lightly patted Serra's head, to gauge Addie's reaction. "It seems she was so excited by wanting to play that she doesn't have the energy."
"Well, notes are something I can sympathize with. At least with me I can go back into the book and it gives me another reason to read them again." Addie moved over to the park bench with Serra, not seeming too worried about the man patting her head. He didn't seem to be a threat, after all.
"As for her playing, babies tend to do that a lot. They just don't have a whole lot of energy this young, as far as I've noticed."
"Historian, yes? Sadly your notes are easier to compile than mine." Had he even backed these up on the laptop yet? God he hoped so. There were some crucial notes that he didn't want to lose on certain subjects.
"I'm afraid I'm inexperienced with child care. I enjoy children, or else I would not have chosen to work with them, but I know nothing about their care."
"Well, I generally am going by the seat of my pants," Addie answered as she shifted Serra a little and lay her down in the baby carrier she had brought. "I'm an only child and only know about college students and what worked with me when I was young. Unfortunately, it's a trial and error process. I don't put any stock in what 'the experts' say. Experts generally don't have kids."
"She must be interesting in diapers. Did she ever get them caught in her shroud? Or was she always able to control it so well?" Jaime really needed to learn to not be so obvious when he was pumping for information, but he was genuinely interested. He hadn't met such a strongly evident elemental in awhile. Most had powers doing with emotions and death. The latter he stayed away from, and the former annoyed him at times.
"She's always been able to make her shroud smaller or larger and move it, but now she's slowly learning how to control the wetness." A small nod of her head as she stroked the girl's hair, "I had to water proof her crib so it didn't mold and the bedding didn't end up soggy, though. Diapers...Well, They get wet a lot but I get the kind with the plastic-like outer edges."
That perhaps would have been bad. Mold and young children didn't mix well, and even he knew that. "Well, her body should regulate like a normal child's?" He was interested in that. She was certainly normal otherwise. No strange bodily appendages that he could see. Though...she could be hiding them.
But why would a child do that?
Addie raised a brow and sat herself down on the bench, pulling Serra in beside her. The child was slowly drifting off to sleep and was looking up at Jaime with half-lidded eyes. Serra looked like she was going to demand to pay again but Addie didn't seem to want to let her. Instead, the historian held a finger up to Jaime as if to ask him to wait a moment and began to rock the little carrier back and forth, humming one of Serra's favorite songs.
The girl yawned and was soon asleep, sucking her thumb.
"There. Now, if you don't mind speaking softly - she's a fairly heavy sleeper. Regulate?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:00 pm
{I Live And Learn } A Rainy Lesson i. It didn't take long for Addie to realize that the times that Serra was most content were the times when they were either watching the rain or out in it. Addie, thankfully, didn't seem to mind the rain as much as one would think from their first few encounters with it.
One of her favorite things, when she was young, was splashing about in puddles. It drove her parents absolutely crazy since she always muddied her fresh, expensive clothing.
"The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout," Addie sang as Serra was pushed back and forth in her little baby swing, "Down came the rain and washed the spider out."
It was both a happy and sad song for the rain spirit. While she loved hearing about the rain coming, the sun drying it out struck a melancholy note in the child and she'd make a face. Addie had taken to modifying the song instead.
"Out came the sun and dried up all the rain," she watched her daughter make the face and smiled, "Until the rain clouds came again."
It made the child giggle gleefully and her hands clapped.
"Huh. We need to learn some more songs about rain, don't we?" She lifted the girl from the swing and held her on her hip instead, making her way to the computer. Serra was held on her lap while she booted the PC up and quickly typed "Rain Songs" into her google toolbar. The internet was a historian's friend as much as books were.
A few songs caught her eye and she quickly began to downloaded several before beginning to play one in particular. She KNEW that one.
"Early in the morning rain with a dollar in my hand," she sang, "With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand..."
Serra listened with rapt attention.
"I'm a long way from home and I miss my loved one so. In the early morning rain with no place to go."
By the end of the song, Serra was asleep - soothed by the song of rain and Addie's voice. It was then that Addie decided she needed to get some sound effects tape. Even if Serra couldn't see or be in it, perhaps a tape or two of rain sounds would be a good thing.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:24 pm
{Yes, I Live And Learn } A Rainy Lesson ii. "Serra, be a good girl and--No. No. Please don't this is a new..." Serra wrapped her tiny arms around her mother's neck, her shroud that was now soaking wet with Serra's experiments transferring the water to Addie's new shirt. "...Shirt."
Serra giggled softly and nuzzled into the brunette's shoulder. How could she stay mad at that? Shaking her head, Addie pried the child off her and lay her down in the car seat that she had purchased for her.
"Today, Miss Serra, we are going to the mall." The girl and carrier was picked up and hauled into Addie's car, strapped in, and soon they were on their merry way towards the nearest mall.
The small girl was happily babbling, shroud pulled in her lap to keep the carseat from becoming soaked as per Addie's request. Really, she didn't quite understand what was so bad about things getting wet but her mother did seem to get quite upset when things did - but that was beside the point. They were driving and going somewhere and outside and even if it wasn't raining she wasn't cooped up inside.
"Well, Serra, We're here! Are you ready to go inside?" Addie turned her head as she finished parking the car. The girl gave her a face that purely said she was NOT ready to go inside again but Addie cheerfully exited the car and went over to Serra's side to pick her up. "We'll have fun, I promise. Maybe I'll even take you through the carwash later."
That looked like rain, didn't it? Serra brightened up at that and let her mother pick her up and put her in the little stroller than Addie always kept in the car with no complaint. At least during the walk to the building she was out in the fresh air.
All good things had to come to an end, though, and the sunshine and breeze disappeared as Aderyn pushed Serra through the glass doors and into the mall itself.
Sights, smells and sounds hit Serra. The sensitive child winced a bit at the noise and condensed her shroud, hiding her and muffling the noise just a little bit. Now she remembered why she didn't want to go - the mall was loud and busy - and the only good thing about the last trip was Caden who was mildly interesting.
"Hey, baby, it's okay." Addie cooed, bending down and kissing Serra's face despite the condensation that hit her own skin. Thankfully, she wasn't wearing any makeup - Addie rarely did anyway. "Come on, the poster shop is this way."
The stroller was turned around and pushed in the direction of a little shop with colorful paper with pictures Serra had never seen before plastered on the walls and windows. It amused her and she tried to focus her eyes in on several of the colorful pictures. Unfortunately, Addie had turned her around already and they passed the ones she had been staring at in favor of a few more subdued ones. Blues, and greens in muted tones rather than the bright rainbow splashes that reminded her of the girl Taji she had met in the library.
"Okay, Miss Serra, which one do you like more?" Addie pointed to a painted scene of a rainstorm swirling over an ocean and then another one of a rainy street. Serra stared quietly at both of them for a long time before pouting. She wanted BOTH of them - they both looked so very familiar to her and she didn't quite understand why.
"Baaaah." She pointed with both of her fingers, one at each picture, and looked pleadingly at her mother. Couldn't she have them both? Addie bit her lip and looked at the price tag.
At least they weren't incredibly expensive. One look at Serra's cute, pleading face and she promptly found that she could not deny her the pictures. "All right..."
Addie knelt down, looking at the number on the corner of the posters - BG3 and BG5. "BG...One. Fifteen...Three. There we go." She pulled out a rolled up paper wrapped in plastic and set it beside her before going on a search for the next one. It took her a few moments to find it but eventually she did and set it down beside the other. Gathering them up, she stood and went to the cashier, pulling out her wallet as she did.
Before long both posters were paid for and bagged up and Serra was wheeled out of the shop with Addie muttering about cute baby eyes that she couldn't resist.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:29 pm
{If You Live, You Will Learn } A Rainy Lesson iii. They were about to exit the mall when the familiar sound of rain caught Serra's attention. The babe turned her head, wildly trying to find the source. Logically, she felt no rain on her and they were inside which meant the chance that she was imagining things was high. However, it sounded far too real and the child was rapidly approaching the doors that were quite sunny and would take her away from the soothing sound.
Doing the only thing she could think of, Serra let out a wail like no other that caused Aderyn to stop in her tracks. "Serra? Serra baby what's wrong?" Had she accidentally rammed her into something? The woman dropped down beside her child and mechanically went around checking the baby for any scratches, gashes or bruises. Finding none, Addie looked at Serra - who had stopped her wailing - confused.
Serra wiggled in her seat and strained to look for the sound again - she could still hear it, almost taste the rain. It frustrated her that she could not find it.
Addie looked in the direction Serra was staring in and laughed - the sound effects store? THAT was what Serra wanted? Well...She had already spent more than she had planned on but what did it hurt to look? A crying Serra was definitely not something that the historian would like to deal with and if she was lucky the sound would put the child to sleep.
The stroller was turned around and Serra was brought up to a flat pane of glass that had water running down between it looking like very realistic rain. It sounded like it, as well, and the rain spirit was absolutely mesmerized.
Her little hands were pressed firmly against the glass, trying her hardest to touch the liquid that appeared to be there. Frustrated that she simply couldn't touch it, she looked up to her mother with a pout as if to ask what it was.
"That's a decoration, Serra, that makes rain sounds. It's supposed to be soothing." It also cost at least a few thousand and not something Addie planned on purchasing.
The girl looked at it longingly then once more turned her pleading eyes onto her mother. Addie strategically looked away but could not drown out the whimpering noises that came from her daughter.
"Serra, momma doesn't want to spend so much money..." Another loud whimper. "Serra..." Yet another one, a bit louder than before bordering on full out tears. "...Fine."
Biting the bullet, Addie pulled out her checkbook and went to the register - perhaps she could ask for an advance on her check. The historian wasn't bad off and had quite a bit of money stashed away. Old money that came with the name Barclay - but she did not like to touch that money unless she had to. All her life she'd been independent and that was how she wanted to stay.
Several books were on the counter about the science behind storms and other phenomena and Addie couldn't help but pile them on as well. If Serra was going to be so interested in rain the least she could do was read up on it - both for her and her daughter.
In the end, as Addie was wheeling Serra out of the shop (after giving them her address and requesting delivery to her home), she realized she would definitely need to grow a backbone when it came to the little one in the stroller. She had already spent way more than she intended to ever spend on things that were not useful.
"You better know I love you, Serra," Addie complained as she picked the child up and set her in the carseat again. Her reward was a very wet kiss placed right on her cheek.
"Yeah. So very worth it."
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:04 am
{Does It Have To Have A Name?} A Gift From Taji.
The bottle comes with this tag tied to the handle: Quote: The majiiturtle's specialty is to control water, especially rain!
It is friends with majiisheep and majiibunny and their pastime is to brew little storms.
If there are more than 3 majiiturtle and sheep together, a big storm will awaken!! So be careful!
Having majiiturtle with you will increase chances of rain and mist, your flowers will be happy.
No matter how much you turn the jar around, the rain will always fall in the same direction, cool huh? Quote: HI SERRA
I em prrrktising mi letrs. I hav send yu trrrtl. It maks rane. It is vere frendli. Trrrtls eet vejtabels plantes grene tings. It is safe in its jrrr, the jrrr maks air and it flotes and stuf. I hope yu like it. COME VIZIT ME
Lov, Taji
"A majiiturtle, hm?" Addie said to herself as she set the little jar on the table to watch the creature inside float up and down inside. It was kind of cute - but she didn't know how often she was supposed to feed it, what kind of plants it preferred, and if she'd have to clean out the jar every now and then due to waste. Then again, maybe she was reading too much into it? The note said it was magic, after all. Maybe it didn't poop. At least Addie could hope that it didn't - she already had to deal with Serra's diapers.
"Serra! Taji sent you a present!"
The rain spirit perked up at the sound of her friend's name and she tore her eyes off the television (which was on the Discovery channel) to look toward the hallway that'd lead into the kitchen. Was Taji there? "Taaa!"
She couldn't quite get the name out but she was slowly beginning to make noises that were relevant to things she was trying to convey, anyway. Floating up into the air and navigating her way into the kitchen, Serra stopped in front of her mother with an expectant grin. Where was Taji?
"Yes, Taji. She sent you a gift - see?" Addie picked up the little jar and showed it to Serra. The turtle inside blinked it's tiny little eyes and looked steadily at it's new owner, silent and calm in it's own little world. Serra was overjoyed and clapped her hands.
It floated like she did and it was raining inside the bottle! Oh! Oh that was just amazing! "Git?"
"No, Serra. Giiiift. Can you say 'gift'? It's a turtle." Addie set the jar down on the chair (which was just about level with the child) and let Serra reach out to touch the jar.
"Giiiiiit." Nope, couldn't say 'gift' yet. "Tatal." Or turtle.
Addie laughed and leaned against the table, "Close enough, Lil' Drop. What do you want to name your turtle, hm?" Yes, Addie, leave it up to a baby to name a creature. Torture the creature with a name like Bob! Of course, Serra had been getting bigger every day and it almost saddened her. Before long, Serra would be walking, talking, and dating boys.
Oh, she'd be a total wreck! Better to not think that way quite yet. After all, Serra couldn't even say 'turtle' or go to the bathroom by herself yet. Getting ahead of yourself, Barclay!
Serra stared intently at the little creature. Name. What to name a little thing that floated so happily in the jar? "Play!" Well, it was really the only word she could say at the moment, so what did Addie expect?
"We cannot name a turtle 'Play', Serra." Addie said with a laugh, "What about Barnaby?" She failed at names, honestly. All you had to do was look at her bird (Ohno) and her dog (Kirby) to know that. OK. Well. KIRBY wasn't such a bad name but Ohno for a bird?
Serra wrinkled her nose. Barnaby? She could barely say 'Kirby' though she was starting to get better at saying 'Ohno' instead of 'Aho'. The child shook her head and pressed her nose against the glass. "Wain."
Addie blinked. Wayne? Well, that wasn't such a bad name. "OK, Serra. Wayne it is. Wayne the turtle."
...Addie was so clueless sometimes.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:40 pm
{Step by Step} Teaching Serra To Walk In Which Addie Helps Serra Learn To Walk
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:49 pm
{ And the green grass grows all around } Planting Landon i. It was time - Addie's maternity leave had finally ended and the woman had hired a babysitter to take care of Serra while she taught her classes at the local college. The historian had mixed feelings about this and was currently squeezing the toddler tightly to her body.
"I don't want to leave!"
Serra, who was quite intent on getting out of her mother's grasp and being able to breathe, was struggling and slightly turning blue - though whether it was from the squeezing or from anger was uncertain. "Leggo!" She gasped.
Addie let her go and sat her down on her cloud once again, "Sorry, Lil' Drop, I just don't want to let you go!" The brunette sat herself down on the couch and frowned, fidgeting with her skirt. As much as she wished she could take Serra with her to class it had firmly been denied.
The toddler sucked in air greedily and crossed her little arms over her chest. While she didn't know why Addie was so upset (after all, Addie had never left her before so why should she think she'd start now?) she was certain it hadn't warranted almost squeezing the life out of her.
A few more minutes of fretting and fidgeting were allowed before the doorbell sounded and Addie jumped up, running to the door. A teenage girl was there, loudly smacking her gum and holding a flowerpot in her hands. "This was on the doorstep when I got here, think it's for you."
"Hello, Jessica. A flower pot?" Addie furrowed her brow and took the pot from her, examining it, and then the note that was attatched to it. Promptly, the woman paled significantly.
The leaf you found is a very special one. It will grow into a child if you take care of it.
A CHILD? Her maternity leave JUST ended! How could she take on ANOTHER child?
"Something wrong, Ms. Barclay?" The teenager asked, chewing stopped in concern for her newest employer. If she was sick, she wouldn't be needed and she really needed that job.
"Wrong? Oh, no, n..not wrong." Yes, something is very wrong. I wasn't ready to be a mother ONCE and here's a 2nd kid?.
"You sure? D'ya need to go lay down?"
Addie shook her head. She needed this job and she couldn't just not show up. She would go to work and she would come home, stare at the leaf, and see if she would do as the note said.
The historian turned and looked at her daughter. "I'll be back in six hours, Serra," she said softly and stroked her cheek, "Be good for Jessica."
And she left.
Serra stood there, eyes wide. Her mother had left without her? In all her life, she went everywhere with the brunette and now she was....gone? And there was a stranger there trying to pick her up?
"No! Nonononono!" Serra screamed, struggling against the teenage arms that held her now. "Moooommma!"
It was hours before Serra stopped crying.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:14 am
{ Now what will I do? } Planting Landon ii. Aderyn went through the entire day with only half of her mind on her classes. It was impossible to concentrate fully but with the level of idiots she taught nobody noticed. History didn't tend to be people's favorite subject. They didn't understand that history was, in fact, one of the most important things in the world. That just by being there they were creating history, even if it was just their own. It was why Addie liked it so damn much.
This, however, was not on Addie's mind as she dismissed her final class for the day. She had a plant at home that would somehow turn into a child. Well, at least it was bigger than air this time. Serra had come from thin air, this kid comes from a leaf. Maybe it'd get bigger next time!....If there was a next time. Oh dear god, Gaia was strange. It was all she could do to keep from hyperventilating.
Next you knew she wouldn't be able to go to a restaurant in fear that her hamburger would sprout eyes, legs, and call her mama.
The last of her paperwork was put in her brief case and, after waiting the mandatory thirty minutes to make sure none of the students needed help (they never did), left the classroom and began to walk back to the house.
"Jessica?" The historian called, closing the door behind her and placing her briefcase by the coat rack, "I'm home."
The teenager she'd entrusted to watch her daughter turned the television off and clumped loudly down the stairs, "Great. Can I get my 30 bucks, then?"
Slightly put off by the way she was acting, Addie dug into her purse and handed her the money, "Mhm. Thank you, Jessica, and have a good day."
Jessica saluted and waltzed out the door, completely forgetting to tell Addie where Serra was. Sighing, the historian put her purse on the coat rack along with her jacket and went up the stairs, assuming she was in the room where the television was.
Sure enough, Serra was sitting there and coloring quietly, her little cloud encased around her like a private little veil.
"Serra?"
No response.
"Serra? Honey?"
Again, no response. Obviously, the toddler was still quite mad at her mother for leaving her alone. She'd never done that before. Without warning, Addie slid behind her daughter and scooped her up (Much to the toddler's protests) and cuddled her close.
"Momma missed you, Lil' Drop," Aderyn murmured to the rain spirit, only to get a blast of water to her face. It didn't detour her, "Come on, Serra, please don't be mad at me. Mommy had to go."
Serra stilled, "Did not."
"I did, Lil' Drop. Mommy needed to go and make money for us. I'll always come back though and spend time with my favorite girl, hm?"
The toddler gave a heavy pout and looked up at her mother, the cloud melting away and floating slightly off to the distance to keep her mother from being more soaked. "Missed."
"I missed you too. Come on, though. We have a pot to plant."
And pot him they did, amidst the squealing, laughing, and dirt fights, that little leaf had found a home. Now all there was to do was wait and see if she'd truly be a mother again.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:22 am
{Someone save me } A Chaotic Day. Addie was not a bad person. In fact, she was a very good person! The historian was just very tired because of Serra's seemingly endless supply of energy. Where had the quiet, shy little baby gone to? Addie wanted her back! Currently, she had Serra locked up in her room with strict orders to play with her toys herself while she attempted a nap on the couch in the living area of their three story home.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem as though she would be getting rest any time soon. The fact of the matter was while Serra didn't mind playing alone, she most certainly DID mind when her mother had made it clear that she was annoying her and thus was throwing a fit and banging things around. Addie was almost afraid to go upstairs and see the room flooded from her little temper-tantrum.
The books said that she shouldn't give in but guilt was eating at her and eating at her badly. The woman just was not an experienced mother and she was still learning - mostly from books as she didn't have many friends outside of them. Besides, Aderyn Barclay was of the opinion that books held all the answers if one listened to their advice. Not necessarily the smartest thing to do, of course, but the female's implicit trust in books was something that made the woman...well...herself!
"I'm never having another child," she murmured to herself quietly, gnawing on her lip as the chaos above her continued to rain down upon the floor and shake dust from the ceiling that likely needed to be cleaned.
"MA!" Serra screeched, kicking her feet against the floor again. Why was her mother paying her NO attention? This was not right! This was not fair! Addie flinched but held her ground, squeezing her eyes shut and trying to drown out the sound with her own humming. It didn't work.
Sighing, the female decided to do the only thing she could possibly think of doing. She reached out her hand, grabbed the phone, and dialed Jaime's number.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:25 am
{Writing My Life Story} Addie's Online Journal Log iii.
06/18/07
Dear Journal,
Serra's incredibly hyper. Almost too hyper, actually, and it's to the point where I'm driving myself mad trying to keep up with her. Anyone else but me sees a slightly shy little girl who is well behaved but with me she just...I don't know. It's not something that I know what to deal with. Jaime came over after I begged him to and managed to get her to calm down and go to bed. We ended up staying and talking and I have promised that since he helped me I'd go to one of these lab-things and learn some about these children that come from cabbages that he heard of.
Science and I don't particularly mix well but he's been doing me favors and I feel it's only the right thing to do. Besides, he's...kind of cute. I didn't write that, Journal, if anyone else asks. Of course nobody would and I'm just being silly and now I'm rambling...
I'm just overly tired. This journal will be a short one. For now, I should sleep. Tomorrow I'm taking Serra to the labs to see these cabbage children since she demanded to see them. Just like the books and folls, I'm guessing.
This is Addie, signing off.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:27 am
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:28 am
{Ive been a prisoner all my life} Bringing Home Baby The cabbage was carefully placed in Addie's garden. There was no other place for the thing to go, and considering she really didn't want it accessible to Serra most of the time, it was the best bet. They'd told her all the child needed was water and light. Well, how a computer could possibly need water was beyond her, but it looked real enough. At least, from a distance.
What made her agree to taking it on was beyond her, but perhaps she had a weakness for children. Or, in this case, plants considering this was the second which would bear fruit in the shape of children.
Things like this were not supposed to happen. Things like this didn't happen in a normal world! Well, Aderyn, you didn't exactly choose to live in a normal world now, did you? her inner voice spoke irritably. Well, it had a right to be irritable.
"No, I didn't," She agreed out loud, taking the hose and sprinkling water onto the biocomputer carefully before reaching down and twisting the knob to turn off the flow of liquid.
Serra, who had been watching her do this, peeked out of the window from the guest bedroom, "Now what?"
Now what indeed! Addie shook her head, "We wait, Lil' Drop. We wait."
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:34 am
{I've waited for you} Landon Arrives Nestled mostly with the carefully packed dirt the small leaf began to wiggle furiously. Though not powerfully enough to rock it's pot the motions were more noticeable than any it would have made before.
"Maaaama!" Serra cried, bouncing up and down as the pot began to move. It had been some time - almost a year now - since the leaf had been potted and she'd been watching it intently after being told it would become a brother or sister to her. No, she didn't understand, but when did a child question such things?
"What is it, Serra?" Came Addie's voice, fresh from the shower, a towel around her waist as she made her way down the stairs and to the kitchen where the plant was nestled on the window sill, "Oh. Oh my!"
Serra giggled. Her mother's reactions were always so amusing.
"Is that pot moving?"
"Yup!"
"I'm not just seeing things?"
"Nuh huh."
Addie hurried over to it, moving it away from the sill and onto the large kitchen table.
"Have we killed it?!"
The leaf was decidedly not dead, those it's normal green colour was disappearing as blues and purples began to tint the edges of it. As if spurred on by the sudden doubled attention the small lea began wiggling mostly int eh direction of it's watchers, as it did so it also seemed to grow larger from a small and hand sized to bulging out of it's pot.
"It's dying. I killed it!" Aderyn was about to completely panic now, "I'm going to jail for murder!" All those...seven?...months of watering and taking care of that plant and now it was DYING. Wait.
...
...
Did that thing just grow? And bulge out of the pot? "Serra, go into the living room." If the thing was going to combust, it would be best to allow her daughter to be out of the line of fire. It wasn't as if SHE could leave it there alone, though.
"But mama!"
"Go, Serra!"
Panicking humans were amusing. Now to find something to poke it with. Wildly, Addie looked around, thankful that the toddler was reluctantly moving to the living room.
Like a Banana the seems on the leaf seemed to pop and then peel away revealing a very strange looking little boy and an and knocked over pot sitting on the table.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:43 am
{Writing My Life Story} Addie's Online Journal Log iv.
01/15/08
Dear Journal,
Second child has finally arrived and boy do I feel awkward. He's...strange. Okay, a little more than strange! Definitely not something an upper middle-class respectable woman would have as a son! Yes, journal, the plant was a male. Worse now, though, is that he looks (and acts like!) one of those punk rockers that I try to shy Serra away from. He has electric blue hair that's tipped with some kind of violet and he's always twitching and unable to stay still. I've attempted to put him in the clothing that I recently purchased for him (lovely sweaters and khaki shorts with little baby ties) but he's managed to shred each and every one of them - WITH IS TEETH.
Serra's positively refusing to go near the boy and that leaves me running between the two of them like a mad woman. I didn't sign up for this! I want my quiet life back!
s**t. I heard a crash. Pray to god it's not my Antique 1550 vase.
~Addie
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:45 am
{Freed} Another one?! It was just a simple, normal, average day the day the mermaid decided to make her entrance to the world. The sun was shining, and Serra was zooming around the large, generous back yard on her small thundercloud appropriately, by Addie, named Doom. Addie was sitting in the new garden she had started (a normal one, in which no children would pop out of, thank you!) with her new son sitting not too far away from her, chewing on the clothing that she'd purchased him using a small portion of her last paycheck.
Which she would now have to stretch even further until she decided to break down and touch the family accounts.
And the cabbage was now shaking, rocking back and forth oh-so-slowly, though it was doing it without anyone noticing. In fact, it was half way opened before Serra felt a change in the air (a talent she'd picked up, in trying to learn how to predict the weather) and her cloud stopped.
Hmm. "Momma?" Came the child's voice, the girl hopping off the cloud as it disappeared for the time being until it was called into existence again. "It moved!" Serra's small legs carried her toward it before she dropped to her knees before the leafy plant, a hand now sticking out of it. A dark hand.
Addie's head popped up from her task of tending to the plant bed and her floppy hat fell off, bouncing from her shoulder before landing on the soft grass, "What's moving, Serra?"
"Plant."
Fluidly, the historian pushed herself onto her feet before making her way toward where her daughter sat with the cabbage which seemed to be rapidly deteriorating. By the time she got there, a small mermaid child rested on the ground. Soil and some kind of sticky goo covered her skin in a thin sheen, but outside of that, she was very beautiful. Long, wavy and dark hair with a definite tan to her skin. She looked every part a dark, tropical beauty except for the piercing green that startled Addie as her eyes opened.
"Hnn. It looks like you two have a little sister," she murmured, a touch of awe in her voice, "and we have to go shopping again."
She didn't show it, though worry had crept up in the back of her mind as she looked at the wiggling child before her. Three children, a teacher's salary, and one of them definitely would need more resources due to the very apparent lack of legs.
Aderyn Barclay would need to swallow her pride and go to the bank first thing in the morning.
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